Atlanta is getting a generous helping of cultural nourishment this month, thanks to Thriving Together Atlanta's free Equitable Dinners. These events, designed to foster community connections through the arts, are setting the table for change in conversations around systemic racism's impact on health and well-being. According to an announcement from the City of Atlanta, this series of dinners isn't just about the food; it's about digesting heavy topics that affect Atlantans every day.
Jointly presented by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, the CDC Foundation, the National Black Arts Festival, and Out of Hand Theater, the Equitable Dinners kick off with a short play that leads into the meaty discussions. With seats that are limited in number but unlimited in diversity, attendees include artists, healthcare pros, and community leaders itching to tackle challenges head-on. And yes, you'll need to RSVP if you want in on the action.
The dinner venue lineup is as eclectic as the attendees, with Charles Drew Charter School hosting an event in collaboration with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Wellstar Health Systems. Follow-up acts include meals at East Point City Hall with The Coalition to Remember the 1906 Race Massacre, Westminster Schools of Atlanta, and the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, in league with Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Initiative. "We invite the Atlanta community to join us for our events and engage in important conversations," implored Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs, in a statement made by the city's news page.
The events underscore an initiative that has been spurred by a $1 million Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge grant. In 2022 alone, Bloomberg Philanthropies disseminated $1.7 billion to causes globally, focusing on areas including the arts and public health. Thriving Together Atlanta exemplifies the strength of community partnerships in addressing not just a singular issue, but the multitude that compounds the public good - or, in this case, the public health.
